Objective To explore the values of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in staging the lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS) through analysing the differences of ADC in different types of lesions.Methods 137 lesions identified in 29 patients with MS,were characterized by their enhancement pattern on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images and whether they were changing in appearance, size or signal.The lesions were classified into four groups:homogeneously enhancing lesions (HELs), ring-enhancing lesions (RELs), active nonenhancing lesions (ANELs), and inactive nonenhancing lesions (INELs).The mean ADC values for each type of lesions were calculated and compared.Results The ADC values for HELs, RELs, ANELs and INELs were (91.09±13.63)× 10 5 · m2 · s-1, (105.66±9.92) × 10-5 · m2 · s-1, (136.80±20.31) × 10-5 · m2 · s-1 and (127.46±13.65) ×10-5 · m2 · s-1.There were significant differences between the ADC values of any two groups in the four groups except the ADC values between ANELs and INELs.Conclusion ADC values are useful to differentiate each type of lesion,which can help stage the lesions of MS.

Aim To investigate the effect of p38 MAPK AS-ODNs on the expression of GLT-1 during the induction of brain ischemic tolerance induced by cerebral ischemic preconditioning (CIP).Methods Eighty healthy male Wistar rats with permanent occlusion of the bilateral vertebral arteries were randomly divided into 6 groups: ①Sham group (n=10);②CIP group (n=10);③ischemic insult (Ⅱ) group (n=10);④CIP+Ⅱ group (n=10);⑤p38 MAPK AS-ODNs+CIP+Ⅱ group (n=30);⑥p38 MAPK S-ODNs+CIP+Ⅱ group (n=10).Group ⑤ was divided into 5 nmol, 10 nmol and 15 nmol subgroups according to the dose of p38 MAPK AS-ODNs (n=10).The dose of p38 MAPK S-ODNs was 15 nmol.All the rats were sacrificed 6 h and 2 d after the sham operation or the last time of global brain ischemia reperfusion.Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis were used for detecting the expression of p-p38 MAPK and GLT-1 protein.Results CIP moderately up-regulated the expression of p-p38 MAPK and significantly up-regulated the expression of GLT-1 protein, inhibited the excessively up-regulation of p-p38 MAPK and the down-regulation of GLT-1 induced by ischemic insult.p38 MAPK AS-ODNs significantly inhibited the up-regulation of p-p38 MAPK and GLT-1 protein in a dose-dependent manner during the induction of brain ischemic tolerance by CIP.Conclusion p38 MAPK AS-ODNs inhibit the up-regulation of GLT-1 during the induction of brain ischemic tolerance induced by CIP.

To prepare the RNAse-resistant virus particles containing the partial gene fragments of avian influenza virus H5N1 for use as RNA standard and control in RNA virus detection, the genes coding the coat protein and maturase of E.coli bacteriophage MS2 were amplified by PCR and then cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET32a to construct the intermediate vector pET32a-MS2. In addition, the gene sequences coding hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase(NA) and M protein of the H5N1 virus were also cloned separately to the down-stream of plasmid pET32a-MS2, thus constructing the prokaryotic expression vectors pET32a-NS2-HA, pET32a-MS2-NA and pET32a-MS2-M. These recombinant plasmids were then transformed separately to E.coli BL21(DE3) with induction by IPTG. to express the virus-like particles. The virus-like particles observed under electron microscopy were identified by RT-PCR ,while their stability was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR. In this way, the virus-like particles were successively constructed and identified through PCR amplification, enzymolysis identification and sequencing analysis. These virus-like particles observed under electron microscopy appeared to be circular in shape with a diameter of about 50 nm. Their stability was proved to be rather good. From these observations, it is apparent that these virus-like particles can be used as RNA standard and quality control in the detection of avian influenza virus H5N1.

Chronic kidney diseases severely affects human health and quality of life.The end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients require extensive blood purification treatments.Due to the limitations of methods,traditional dialysis treatments greatly limit the activity of the patients undergoing dialysis.Portable artificial kidneys can meet the diverse needs of these patients,and has become a new direction of research.There are two types of portable artificial kidneys,which are respectively based on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis,such as wearable artificial kidney (WAK) and bio-implantable artificial kidney (BAK).At present,preclinical experiments with artificial kidneys have achieved initial success,basically meeting treatment needs.Portable artificial kidneys are expected to achieve a mobile continuous dialysis treatment,reduce hospitalization and mortality in ESRD patients,save medical resources,improve the life quality of the patients,and make the patients return to normal lifestyles.The research status of WAK and BAK was reviewed,and their future developments were prospected.

Objective:To compare the short-term and long-term efficacies and safety of short-term spinal cord stimulation (st-SCS) and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) in treating zoster-associated pain (ZAP).Methods:A total of 208 ZAP patients who received treatment in Department of Pain Management, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from January 2019 to September 2021 were selected. They were divided into st-SCS group ( n=107) and PRF group ( n=101) according to different treatments. After differences of baseline data being balanced by 1∶1 propensity score matching between the two groups, scores of numerical rating scale (NRS), NRS remission rate, drug dosage, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and complications of 86 patients from each 2 groups were compared and analyzed before surgery, 3 and 7 d after surgery, at discharge, and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. Results:NRS scores in st-SCS group and PRF group 3 and 7 d after surgery, at discharge, and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery were significantly lower than those before surgery ( P<0.05). NRS scores in st-SCS group were significantly lower than those in PRF group at discharge and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery ( P<0.05). NRS remission rate in st-SCS group was significantly higher than that in PRF group at discharge and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery, and total effective rate in st-SCS group was significantly higher than that in PRF group 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery ( P<0.05). The pregabalin and gabapentin dosages in st-SCS group and PRF group 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery were significantly lower than those before surgery, and the gabapentin dosage in st-SCS group was significantly lower than that in PRF group 3 months after surgery ( P<0.05). PSQI in st-SCS group and PRF group at discharge and 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery was significantly decreased compared with that before surgery, and PSQI in st-SCS group at discharge and 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery was significantly decreased compared with that in PRF group ( P<0.05). No serious complications as spinal epidural hematoma or spinal nerve root and spinal cord injuries occurred in st-SCS group and PRF group. Conclusion:Both st-SCS and PRF can treat ZAP safely and effectively, but st-SCS has more advantages than PRF.

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of stent-assisted coil and non-stent-assisted coil for the treatment of ruptured posterior communicating artery aneurysms.Methods A total of 121 consecutive patients with ruptured posterior communicating artery aneurysm treated at the Department of Neurosurgery,Heze Municipal Hospital between June 2014 and June 2017 were enrolled retrospectively.They divided into either a stent group (n =63) or non-stent group (n =58) according to whether they used stent treatment or not.The two groups were compared,and their clinical data,surgical related complications,the degree of embolism immediately after aneurysm surgery,and the follow-up results of clinical and imaging were analyzed.Results Interventional embolization therapy was successfully performed in all the patients.(1) The proportion of wide-necked aneurysms of the stent group was higher than that of the non-stent group.There was significant difference (92.1％ [58/63] vs.8.6％ [5/58],x2 =84.249,P ＜ 0.01).There were no significant differences in age,aneurysm size,sex,and HuntHess grade (all P ＞ 0.05).(2) The incidences of intraoperative aneurysm rupture of the stent group and non-stent group were 4.8％ (3/63) and 3.4％ (2/58) respectively.There was no significant difference (x2 =0.132,P =0.717).The incidence of thromboembolie complication was 12.7％ (8/63) and 5.2％ (3/58)respectively.There was no significant difference (x2 =2.070,P =0.150).In the stent group,1 patient disabled and 1 died,and in the non-stent group,there were no cases with surgical related disability,and 1 died.(3) The comparison of immediate results after procedure between the stent group and non-stent group:there were no significant differences in the complete embolic rate (39.7％ [25/63] vs.37.9％[22/58],x2 =0.039),aneurysm neck residual rate (25.4％ [16/63] vs.39.7％ [23/58],x2 =2.811],and residual rate of aneurysm (34.9％ [22/63] vs.22.4％ [13/58],x2 =2.298,all P ＞ 0.05).(4) The recurrence rate of aneurysms (4.3％ [2/46]) of the stent group was lower than that of the non-stent group (31.8％ [14/44]).There was significant difference between the two groups (x2 =112.610,P =0.01).No rebleeding occurred in all aneurysms after procedure.Conclusion Compared with the non-stent-assisted coil embolization,the stent assisted embolization of ruptured posterior communicating artery aneurysms in acute phase may reduce the recurrence rate of aneurysms and without significantly increasing the incidence of surgery-related complications.

Objective:To investigate the effect of 980 nm semiconductor laser preablation of urethra mucosa at the prostatic tip in small volume benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods:The case data of 120 patients diagnosed with small volume BPH in the Yan′an University Affiliated Hospital from June 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into improved group and conventional group according to different treatment methods, with 60 cases in each group. Patients in the improved group were treated with 980 nm semiconductor laser preablation of urethra mucosa at the prostatic tip, and patients in the conventional group were treated with 980 nm semiconductor laser vaporization of prostate. The sexual function of the patients was evaluated by the international erectile function index-5(IIEF-5) score, erectile hardness score (EHS) and retrograde ejaculation before surgery and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. International prostate symptom scale (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) score, the maximum urine flow rate (Qmax) and postvoid residual urine (PVR) were used to evaluate urinary control function. The incidence of urinary incontinence, bladder neck contracture and other complications were compared between the two groups. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and t-test was used for comparison between groups. The count data were expressed as cases and percentage, and Chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Results:There was no significant difference in PVR, Qmax, IPSS score, QOL score, IIEF-5 score and EHS score between two groups ( P>0.05). In terms of PVR, Qmax, IPSS score, QOL score, IIEF-5 score and EHS score at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, all these parameters were significantly improved compared with the preoperative, the differences were statistically significant ( P< 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P> 0.05). There was no significant difference in IIEF-5 score and EHS score between the two groups during postoperative follow-up and before and after operation ( P> 0.05). The incidence of retrograde ejaculation rate in the improved group was lower than that in the conventional group during the follow-up 1, 3, 6 months after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the follow-up 1, 3 months after surgery, the incidence of stress urinary incontinence in the improved group was lower than that in the conventional group, the differences were statistically significant ( P< 0.05). At follow-up 6, 12 months after surgery, the rates of stress urinary incontinence were similar between the two groups, and the difference was not statistically significant ( P> 0.05). In the follow-up 12 months after surgery, there were 2 cases (3.33%) of bladder and neck contracture in the improved group, and 8 cases (13.33%) in the conventional group, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The effect of 980 nm semiconductor laser preablation of urethra mucosa at the prostatic tip in small volume BPH patients is similar to that of conventional vaporization, and the operation time is short. At the same time, the proximal 1 cm tissue of the verticulae and the integrity of the bladder neck are preserved, and the internal and external sphincter of the urethra are protected, thus improving the immediate postoperative urinary control rate and the incidence of retrograde ejaculation in small volume BPH patients.

Liver fibrosis is the common pathological process in the progression of various chronic liver diseases to liver cirrhosis， and it greatly affects the prognosis of patients with chronic liver diseases. As a novel adipokine， Chemerin participates in the metabolism of glucose and lipids and inflammation， and various studies have shown that the expression level of Chemerin is correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis， suggesting that Chemerin may be involved in the process of liver fibrosis by regulating metabolism and inflammation. Chemerin has shown certain potential in the auxiliary diagnosis of liver fibrosis and the intervention against the progression of liver fibrosis. This article reviews the potential role and mechanism of action of Chemerin in the process of liver fibrosis， in order to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of liver fibrosis.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal characteristics of human brucellosis in Henan Province.Methods:Data of human brucellosis in Henan Province from 2005 to 2021 were collected through the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System, and a descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the epidemic profile of brucellosis in Henan Province and the three distribution characteristics. Global and local spatial autocorrelation were used to analyze the spatial distribution and the hot spots of brucellosis in Henan Province, respectively, and spatiotemporal scanning was used to analyze the spatiotemporal clustering regions of brucellosis in Henan Province.Results:A total of 39 862 brucellosis cases were reported in Henan Province from 2005 to 2021, with an average annual incidence of 2.44/100 000, and the number of cases showed an overall increasing trend each year (χ 2trend = 11 127.85, P = 0.001). The onset months were mainly concentrated from March to July, accounting for 59.00% (23 517/39 862), with May as the peak (5 478 cases). Cases of brucellosis were reported in 157 counties (cities, districts) of the province. The ratio of male to female was 2.52∶1.00 (28 542/11 320). Farmers were the main occupation, with 32 985 cases (82.75%). The age of onset was mainly 45 to 65 years old, with 20 226 cases (50.74%). The global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the global Moran's I was > 0, Z > 1.96, and P < 0.05 in all years except 2006 - 2008, showing spatial clustering. Further local spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed, and high-high and low-low clustering areas existed in 2012 - 2021 ( P < 0.01). Spatiotemporal scanning analysis showed that there was one spatiotemporal cluster in the high incidence area and two spatiotemporal clusters in the low incidence area. The high incidence cluster was centered in Neixiang County, covering 48 counties (cities, districts) including Song County and Ruzhou City, and the aggregation time was from 2014 to 2021. The two low incidence clusters were centered in Yongcheng City and Boai County, covering 58 and 18 counties (cities, districts), respectively, and the aggregation time was 2016 - 2021 and 2005 - 2012, respectively. Conclusion:The overall incidence of brucellosis in Henan Province is on the rise from 2005 to 2021, with middle-aged and elderly male farmers as the main affected population, and there are spatiotemporal clusters of brucellosis in Henan Province.

ObjectiveTo analyse the clinical characteristics of different traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes in patients with heart failure based on information from electronic medical record. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to collect clinical data of all inpatients with heart failure in the Department of Cardiology， Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 1， 2019 to December 31， 2020. A database of clinical TCM data was established to explore the characteristics of clinical data of basic information， syndromes and syndrome element types， and biochemical indexes. The distribution of TCM syndromes and syndrome elements in heart failure patients were also analysed， and the basic information and biochemical indexes of the patients with top 7 different TCM syndrome types were compared. ResultsA total of 1676 inpatients with heart fai-lure were included. The top 7 TCM syndromes of heart failure were syndrome of phlegm turbidity and blood stasis （477 cases， 28.46%）， syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis （439 cases， 26.19%）， syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis with water retention （274 cases， 16.35%）， syndrome of yang deficiency with water retention （145 cases， 8.65%）， syndrome of qi and yin deficiency （104 cases， 6.21%）， syndrome of qi and yin deficiency with blood stasis （80 cases， 4.77%）， syndrome of heart yang deficiency （59 cases， 3.52%）. Among the 1676 patients， 6 syndrome elements accounted for more than 5%. Blood stasis accounted for the highest proportion of TCM syndrome element type （1292 cases， 77.09%）， followed by qi deficiency （919 cases， 54.83%）， phlegm （498 cases， 29.71%）， water retention （434 cases， 25.89%）， yang deficiency （215 cases， 12.82%） and yin deficiency （191 cases， 11.40%）. Among the 1676 patients， 1308 cases of acute heart failure mainly showed syndrome of phlegm turbidity and blood stasis （386 cases， 29.51%）， and 368 of chronic heart fai-lure mainly showed syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis （118 cases， 32.07%）. Patients with syndrome of phlegm turbidity and blood stasis had the shortest disease duration of 0.3 months， while those with syndrome of heart yang deficiency had the longest disease duration of 15 months. The proportion of syndrome of phlegm turbidity and blood stasis was the highest in patients with heart failure combined with coronary artery disease， the proportion of syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis with water retention was the highest in patients with heart failure combined with atrial fibrillation， and the proportion of patients with syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis with water retention and syndrome of yang deficiency with water retention in those applying diuretics during the hospital stay was the highest with more than 86%. The different 7 TCM syndromes showed statistically difference in patients with complications including coronary artery disease， old myocardial infarction， atrial fibrillation， pre and post-admission medication usage including intravenous vasodilators， cardiac stimulants， diuretics， and level of blood chloride， blood urea， blood creatinine， blood bicarbonate， blood albumin， and blood total bilirubin （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe most common TCM syndromes in patients with heart failure are syndrome of phlegm turbidity and blood stasis and syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis. Different TCM syndromes have different characteristics in gender， disease complications， medication before and after admission， and blood indexes.